Best Practice Guidance
Human Interaction with Technology in Dementia

Recommendations

3.1

Practical, cognitive & social factors to improve usability of technology for people with dementia

Technologies are increasingly vital in today’s activities in homes and communities. Nevertheless, little attention has been given to the consequences of the increasing complexity and reliance on them, for example, at home, in shops, traffic situations, meaningful activities and health care services. The users’ ability to manage products and services has been largely neglected or taken for granted. People with dementia often do not use the available technology because it does not match their needs and capacities. This section provides recommendations to improve the usability of technology used in daily life, for meaningful activities, in healthcare and in the context of promoting the Social Health of people with dementia.
3.1.6
Social Health Domain 3: Technology to promote social participation
3.1.6.1

Include social interaction elements in technological interventions that aim to promote social participation

Guidance

Technological interventions aiming to promote social participation among older adults (with and without dementia) should incorporate a social interaction element.

Explanation and Examples

The number of people with dementia who live in the community and are socially isolated is growing. Social isolation can negatively affect health and well-being. Therefore, psychosocial interventions are needed to promote the social participation of people with dementia living in the community. A systematic literature review was conducted to explore the effects of technological interventions on the social participation of older adults with and without dementia. Findings from 36 studies suggest that technological interventions that include a social interaction element (e.g. face-to-face contact, phone calls, text messages) are successful in promoting social participation among older adults. Examples are group interventions that provide regular interactions within a group, or interventions that enable to connect and communicate with other people (e.g. family, friends, or other older adults).

Themes

Target groups

Type of evidence

Pascale Heins (DISTINCT ESR11)

Systematic literature review

References

Heins, P., Boots, L.M.M., Koh, W.Q., Neven, A., Verhey, F.J., and de Vugt, M.E. (2021). The Effects of Technological Interventions on Social Participation of Community-Dwelling Older Adults with and without Dementia: A Systematic Review. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10, 2308. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10112308